Temperature parameterization of the stabilizer consumption in naturally and artificially aged single base gunpowder

Abstract

The most reliable way of chemical stability assessment and the lifetime prediction of nitrocellulose (NC) gunpowder (GP) by measuring of the stabilizer contents is to monitor the consumption of the stabilizer with time, under storage conditions. Due to the limited time available for testing of reliable lifetime prediction the various methods based on the artificially aging process (which simulates the natural aging of GP) has been developed. The aim is to reach equivalent aging in much shorter time then at ambient temperature under naturally storage conditions. The present article describes the results of comparative analysis of the lifetime prediction of naturally and artificially aged different series of NC-40 powder at ambient temperature 25oC. It is showed that empirical value of activation energy of 80 kJ/mol can be used for extrapolation of the reaction rate constant of the stabilizer consumption in the naturally aged NC-40 powder from average annual temperature 15oC in KB-1 collection (conditions of continental climate) to an ambient temperature of 25oC. The lifetime of naturally aged NC-40 powder calculated in this way is in accordance with the lifetime of artificially aged GPs calculated at ambient temperature 25oC, according to worldwide used standard AOP-48 Ed. 2. The lifetime of the naturally aged NC-40 powder calculated in this way is in accordance with the lifetime which was calculated by Van't Hoff extrapolation method, too.

Keywords

• gunpowder
• single base gunpowder
• chemical stability
• storage safety
• stabilizers
• natural aging
• artificial aging
• lifetime prediction